He moved out months ago. So why does the doorbell still send the alerts to his phone — and why did the thermostat change while you were asleep?

Ava: Michael, this is one I've watched happen to a real person. She kept the house, he kept the app. The Ring doorbell, the indoor cameras, the smart lock, the Nest — all still tied to his account. He could see who came and went, hear the room, even unlock the door remotely. She felt watched inside her own home. Is that as serious legally as it feels?

Michael Benavides, Esq.: It's exactly as serious as it feels, and it's one of the most under-recognized forms of post-separation abuse there is. When an ex retains access to the connected devices in your home, California law is implicated on several fronts at once.

What the law reaches

Ava: So the "but the account is in my name" excuse doesn't hold up.

Michael Benavides, Esq.: No — and in a domestic-violence context, "disturbing the peace" under the restraining-order statutes has been read to cover exactly this kind of coercive digital control. The same facts can support an order requiring him to relinquish access.

Reclaiming the connected home — safely

Ava: Preserve, plan, then reset — the lockdown rhythm, applied to the walls around you.

Michael Benavides, Esq.: Your home should be the one place no one gets to watch without your say. California law agrees.

Pink Data helps California women take back control of their homes and their privacy. If an ex still has access to your cameras, locks, or smart-home devices, we can help you preserve the evidence, shut it down, and pursue the remedies California law provides. Free, confidential consultation: 707-362-4166.

PINK DATA is a women's- and family-focused brand of the Law Office of Michael Benavides, Esq., California State Bar No. 270714. Ava is an editorial brand voice, not an attorney; all legal analysis is provided by Michael Benavides, Esq. General information about California law, not legal advice; no attorney-client relationship is formed. Verify current statutes. If you are in danger, call 911; the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 and can help with a technology-safety plan. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING.